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Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Year 8 entry

James Street, Omagh, BT78 1DL

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial TeamSchool website

Some details are being re-checked

We check every fact against the official source on a schedule, and some details on this page are due their next check (last verified 19 October 2026). We'll update the page if anything has changed. How we check facts

Can we apply, and what did it take?

For September 2027 entry

  • How places are decided

    By test score, in rank order

    No minimum score stated; Route 1 by rank order up to 62 places.

    Checked, source: Loreto Grammar School Omagh, checked

  • Year 8 places

    125

    2026 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: Loreto Grammar School Omagh, checked

  • Last distance offered

    Not publishedWe have no checked figure for how far offers reached.

Your next deadlines

  1. Next: Re-mark requests close

    in about 15 weeks

    Only if you want the test papers marked again

  2. Coming up: Appeal deadline

    in about 30 weeks

How far offers reached

Can we get in?

How places are given

Northern Ireland grammar schools give Year 8 places using their own admissions criteria, often in order of transfer test result. Loreto Grammar School, Omagh's criteria are under Admission rules on this page.

Qualifying is not the same as being offered a place.

Reaching the school's standard means your child can be considered. If more children qualify than there are places, the school gives places using its admission rules, in order. The figures below show how far those rules reached in past years. They are history, not a prediction: they change every year with who applies.

Checked, source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked

Most Northern Ireland schools do not publish how far places reached. Read the school's admissions criteria to see how it ranks applicants, and what transfer test results mean.

At a glance

Loreto Grammar School, Omagh in brief

tap a value for its source

Pupils
girlsPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: Loreto Grammar School is a Catholic Voluntary Grammar School ... for girls. The school caters for day students in the age range 11-18.View the official source
Who the school admits.
Year 8 places
125Year 8 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: ADMISSIONS NO. .................................................. 125View the official source2026 entry
The (PAN): how many children the school plans to admit.
Entrance test
SEAG Entrance Assessment (the NI transfer test)
The test children sit to be considered.

Key dates

Dates for September 2027 entry

For children in P7 in 2026/27.

Add to my calendar

SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group)

3 earlier steps, all doneShow

  1. Done: Test registration opens

  2. Done: Test registration closes

  3. Done: Admission cards sent for the test

  1. Next: Test day

  2. Coming up: Transfer test, paper 1

  3. Coming up: Transfer test, paper 2

  4. Coming up: Results

  5. Coming up: Re-mark requests open

  6. Coming up: Re-mark requests close

    in about 15 weeks

    Only if you want the test papers marked again

  7. Coming up: Appeal deadline

    in about 30 weeks

    Source: nidirect (NI Government), checked

  8. Not published yet: Transfer application deadline (to the Education Authority)

    Not yet published, checked 17 Oct 2026

  9. Not published yet: School place outcomes

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

Year 5 now? Dates for September 2028 entryNone of these dates are published yet.

  1. Not published yet: Test day

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

  2. Not published yet: Results

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

  3. Not published yet: Appeal deadline

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

  4. Not published yet: Transfer application deadline (to the Education Authority)

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

Notes on these dates

Last year Loreto looked at punctual applications first: Punctual before late; received after 12 noon 19 February 2026 = late.Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Late applicationsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: February 2026 will be treated as late.View the official source

How places are given

11 admission rules, in order, for 2026 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh gives places using these rules (its ), in this order (the 2026 rules; the rules for 2027 entry are not published yet).

  1. 1

    NI residents selected before non-residents

    The policy's own words
    select for admission all children resident in Northern Ireland at the
  2. 2

    Route 1 (max 62): 1.1 rank order of Schools’ Entrance Assessment Group () Total Standardised Age Score (TSAS) (or SC/SP score)

    The policy's own words
    1.1 Applicants in rank order of achievement based on the Total
  3. 3

    Route 1: 1.2 equal TSAS - surname initial-letter order W V Y G J R O E Q I Z D X C M Mc S F P O’ B U H L A N K Mac T; identical names - eldest by DOB (alternates yearly)

    The policy's own words
    1.2 If there are more applicants with a particular Total Application/Application Form.
  4. 4

    Route 1: 1.3 still tied - random computerised selection

    The policy's own words
    1.3 If, after 1.2(i) and 1.2 (ii) any applicants still tie for a final
  5. 5

    Route 2 (min 63): 2.1 named Loreto as 1st preference

    The policy's own words
    2.1 Applicants who name Loreto Grammar School as 1st
  6. 6

    Route 2: 2.2 child of the family currently enrolled

    The policy's own words
    2.2 Applicants who, at the date of application, have a child of the
  7. 7

    Route 2: 2.3 first child of the family eligible to apply

    The policy's own words
    2.3 Applicants who, at the date of application, are the first child
  8. 8

    Route 2: 2.4 Child Looked After

    The policy's own words
    2.4 Applicants who, at the date of application, are a Child
  9. 9

    Route 2: 2.5 oversubscription within a criterion - surname initial-letter order; identical names - eldest by DOB

    The policy's own words
    2.5 In the event of over subscription in any one of the criterion
  10. 10

    Route 2: 2.6 still tied - random computerised selection

    The policy's own words
    2.6 If, after 2.5(i) and 2.5(ii) any applicants still tie for a final
  11. 11

    Route 2: 2.7 if places remain, non-first-preference applicants considered using 2.1-2.6

    The policy's own words
    2.7 If, after criteria 2.1-2.6 have been applied and places remain,

Source: Loreto Grammar School Omagh, checked

More detail from our guide

The rules here are from the school's prospectus: Admissions Criteria for Year 8 - September 2026 (Prospectus 2026-2027, Section 5.1)Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Document title (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: *Year 8 Admissions Criteria September 2026View the official source. They applied to girls starting in September 2026. Loreto's criteria for September 2027 are Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Criteria published (2027)Not yet published by Loreto Grammar School Omagh; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: 5.1ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR YEAR 8 - SEPTEMBER 2026View the official source, and the details can change. The prospectus also says its admissions section is a shortened version, and the full policy is available from the school office.

In every case, girls living in Northern Ireland were selected before those living elsewhere.

The academic route: by score

The academic places were filled from the top of the TSAS list down. Where two girls had the same score, the school used surname letters in a randomly drawn order, then date of birth, then a computer draw.

The non-academic route: by other criteria

For the non-academic places, girls who named Loreto as their first preference came first. If there were more of them than places, the school then looked, in order, at:

  • a sister or other child of the family already at the school;
  • the first child in the family eligible to go to Loreto;
  • a child looked after;
  • the same surname-letter, age and random-draw steps.

Only if places were left over would the school consider girls who had not named Loreto first. So for half the intake, the order in which you list schools really matters.

Non-academic route detail (September 2026 entry)
SiblingRoute 2 criterion 2.2: a child of the family currently enrolled at the school at the date of application; 'child of the family' includes step, adopted, fostered, looked-after children and e.g. an orphaned cousin.Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Sibling criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: 2.2 Applicants who, at the date of application, have a child of the | ... family* currently enrolled at the school.View the official source
First childRoute 2 criterion 2.3: first child of the family eligible to apply to Loreto (includes a child whose older sibling could not attend mainstream post-primary, and a first child after a family move; twins/multiples included).Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Eldest child criterion (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: 2.3 Applicants who, at the date of application, are the first child | ... of the family** to be eligible to apply for admission to Loreto |View the official source
Final tie-breakRandom computerised selection after surname-letter and date-of-birth tie-breaks.Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Final tie break (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: place, the place(s) will be allocated by random computerisedView the official source
Full order, both routes(1) NI residents selected before non-residents. (2) Route 1 (max 62): 1.1 rank order of SEAG TSAS (or SC/SP score). (3) Route 1: 1.2 equal TSAS - surname initial-letter order W V Y G J R O E Q I Z D X C M Mc S F P O’ B U H L A N K Mac T; identical names - eldest by DOB (alternates yearly). (4) Route 1: 1.3 still tied - random computerised selection. (5) Route 2 (min 63): 2.1 named Loreto as 1st preference. (6) Route 2: 2.2 child of the family currently enrolled. (7) Route 2: 2.3 first child of the family eligible to apply. (8) Route 2: 2.4 Child Looked After. (9) Route 2: 2.5 oversubscription within a criterion - surname initial-letter order; identical names - eldest by DOB. (10) Route 2: 2.6 still tied - random computerised selection. (11) Route 2: 2.7 if places remain, non-first-preference applicants considered using 2.1-2.6.Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Oversubscription criteria (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: If the number of applicants for Route 2 | ... exceeds the number of available places, then the following | ... criteria will be applied sequentially in the order set down below.View the official source

Special circumstances

Illness on a test day is taken into account by the post-primary school through a 'special circumstances' claim with documentary evidence, made with the EA transfer application; not by SEAG or in marking.Northern Ireland: Special circumstances routeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: Academically selective post-primary schools include, within their Year 8 Admissions Criteria, something which is usually referred to as “Special Circumstances”. This allows a parent, when making their post primary transfer application to, for example, ask the post-primary school to take account of their child being unwell when sitting one of the Entrance Assessment Papers.View the official source At Loreto this matters only for the score-based route: Route 1 only: SC Form plus professional verification of the problem and educational evidence (all KS2 standardised English/Maths results) uploaded with the EA Post-Primary Transfer Application; Transfer Sub-Committee decides eligibility and determines a score. Special Provisions via SP Form.Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Special circumstances (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: If a parent / guardian decides to proceed with a claim for Special ... Circumstances, they should complete an SC Form and upload details ... of their claim and the supporting evidence to the Education Authority ... (EA), through completion of the Post-Primary Transfer ApplicationView the official source If you plan to claim, gather the Key Stage 2 results early.

Places after the transfer process

Unsuccessful Year 8 applicants automatically remain on the waiting list; places after the start of the school year awarded using Route 2 criteria.Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Waiting listChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: Any student who has not initially gained a place in Year 8 will ... automatically remain on the Year 8 Waiting List.View the official source In other words, a place that comes up later goes by the non-academic criteria, not by score.

How many apply

Loreto prints its recent numbers. Each entry shows the school year, the admissions number, applications counting all preferences, and admissions.

Applications and admissions, as printed
Three earlier years{"year": "2023/24", "admissionsNo": 125, "totalApplicationsAllPreferences": 118, "totalAdmissions": 117}; {"year": "2024/25", "admissionsNo": 125, "totalApplicationsAllPreferences": 114, "totalAdmissions": 110}; {"year": "2025/26", "admissionsNo": 125, "totalApplicationsAllPreferences": 141, "totalAdmissions": 132, "note": "includes statemented pupils"}Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Applications historyChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: | 2023/24 | 125 | 118 | 117 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2024/25 | 125 | 114 | 110 | | 2025/26** | 125 | 141 | 132 |View the official source

In some of those years, the school received fewer applications than its admissions number.

The test

SEAG Entrance Assessment (the NI transfer test)
Test
SEAG Entrance Assessment (the NI transfer test)
Test date, 2027 entry
Saturday 14 November 2026

Loreto is a SEAG school, so the test that matters is the SEAG Entrance Assessment: two papers, English (or Irish) and mathsSEAG (Northern Ireland): the two test papersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: The SEAG Entrance Assessment consists of two Papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both Papers have an identical format and are set at the same level of difficulty.View the official source, sat on two November Saturdays. But at Loreto the test result only decides part of the intake. The school splits its places between two routes, which it numbers one and two.

  • The academic route. These places go in order of the Total Standardised Age Score. In last year's words: Route 1: rank order of SEAG Total Standardised Age Score (or SC/SP-determined score), higher scores first.Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Selection metric (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: 1.1 Applicants in rank order of achievement based on the Total ... Standardised Age Score achieved in the SEAG Entrance ... Assessment set by the school or scores as determined by ... the Board of Governors in respect of Special Circumstances ... or Special Provisions. Higher scores will precede lower ... scores.View the official source There was no minimum score.
  • The non-academic route. These places do not use the test at all. No SEAG result is needed for Route 2 (non-academic, at least 63 places), which uses preference, sibling, first-child and Child Looked After criteria. A child who could not sit SEAG for a documented reason can also claim Special Provisions for Route 1.Loreto Grammar School, Omagh: Applicants without result (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Loreto Grammar School Omagh.The source says: Route 2 – Non-academic Selection will apply to the remaining ... places being a minimum of 63 places. [...] considered for admission via Route 2 along with any other applicants ... who applied to be considered for admission only by Route 2.View the official source

So a girl without a SEAG result can still be considered for the non-academic places. If you are unsure whether your daughter should sit, the SEAG transfer test guide explains what is involved, and results explained covers the TSAS.

How the Northern Ireland test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed

  1. Done: Open Night 2026 (passed)

    Registration: 6pm

Source: Loreto Grammar School Omagh, checked

If you are refused a place

Reviews, appeals and the waiting list

General information, not legal advice.

This is general information, not legal advice.

If Loreto cannot offer your daughter a place, the Education Authority passes your application to your next preference. You can also appeal to an independent tribunal using the AT1 form, via the EA websiteNorthern Ireland: FormChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: To appeal a school's decision that has refused your child a place, go to the EA website where you can send the appeal form (AT1 Form).View the official source.

The tribunal does not weigh up how much a child wants a school. It upholds an appeal only if the school didn't apply, or didn't correctly apply, its admissions criteria; the school would have offered the child a place if it had applied its criteria correctlyNorthern Ireland: Uphold testsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The tribunal can only uphold an appeal if: ... they find the school didn't apply or didn't apply correctly its admissions criteria ... and they find the school would have offered the child a place if it had applied its admissions criteria correctlyView the official source. At Loreto that could mean checking the TSAS used for the academic places, or whether a first-preference, sibling or first-child fact on your form was counted correctly for the others.

The deadline for 2027 entry is 4pm, Thursday 20 May 2027Northern Ireland transfer: Appeal deadlineChecked 17 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The deadline for receipt of appeal forms against Year 8 decisions by post-primary schools is Thursday 20 May 2027, no later than 4.00 pm.View the official source. Last year's deadline was 4pm on Thursday 21 May 2026Northern Ireland 2026 entry: Appeal deadlineChecked 9 Oct 2026 against nidirect (NI Government).The source says: The deadline for receipt of appeal forms against Year 8 decisions by post-primary schools is Thursday 21 May 2026, no later than 4.00 pm.View the official source.

Official documents and sources

4 sources, each kept as an archived copy

ExamKind is independent. We are not connected with Loreto Grammar School, Omagh, its council or any test provider, and nobody pays to appear on this page. How we check facts · Report an error on this page